Japan PM sent prayer note to controversial war criminal ceremony

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s top government spokesman has acknowledged that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe earlier this year sent a note to a temple ceremony honoring hundreds of World War II-era war criminals that praised their contributions to the country.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday that Abe send the note to a ceremony held April 29 at the Koyasan temple in central Japan, but in his capacity as head of the ruling party, not as prime minister.